According to a report from the Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI), monthly shipments of steel in both the US and Canada ended 2013 with gains over December of 2012. In the US, December shipments lifted 2013 annual shipments to levels roughly equal with 2012, although 2013 remained slightly below 2012 in Canada. While inventory levels increased from November levels as a result of December’s seasonally low level of shipments, inventories were in a better position across the board than last year at this time.
US service center steel shipments in December 2013 increased by 16.5 percent from December 2012. Steel product inventories decreased 2.1 percent from December a year ago.
Meanwhile, Canadian service centers shipments of steel products in December 2013 increased by 3.0 percent from December 2012. Steel product inventories decreased 25.5 percent from December a year ago.